[ She gives him a little smile and notices it has a slightly different effect than usual. Recently, it's changed, leaving him with a small curl of warmth in his gut. He's been telling himself to ignore it, to try not to get used to it. What does it matter if she smiles at him every now and again?

(And yet, somehow, it does). ]

You can keep your half, not interested. [ Seems nearly sacrilegious to say, considering how much he loves kruge. But he also loves the idea of using the stairs rather than climbing a sheer wall. He's climbed up to rooftops before, to join her on occasional surveys, but there's usually a stack of crates or low windowsills for him to use. The Slat isn't built with those, especially not going all the way up to the third floor and attic. ]

Suddenly so impatient.

[ He does pull himself up out of his seat, joining up with her so they can go upstairs. ]

I've got a layout of the house, on my desk. Compiled it from the descriptions in the papers. Altogether, they were really specific.